Faucet-mounting construction

ABSTRACT

Means for mounting a mixing faucet having a mixing valve in which the mixing valve is supported on a bracket attached to a sink top at its lower end. An escutcheon surrounds the mixing valve and is seated at its lower end upon the sink top. The upper portion of the escutcheon is attached to an upper portion of the mixing valve by a threaded nut, with the nut providing a downwardly directed force upon the top of the escutcheon to hold it to the sink top. There are seals at the upper and lower ends of the escutcheon so that the entire interior of the escutcheon is watertight.

United States Patent [72] Inventors Paul A. Mongerson 2,675,017 4/1954Fredrickson et a]. 137/356 Elyria; 2,743,461 5/1956 Urbas .1 4/191Alired M. Moen, Grafton; Charles G. 3,010,474 11/1961 Moen 137/359Mickie, Elyria, all of, Ohio 3,012,251 12/1961 Fife 4/192 [21 1 Appl.No. 850,977 3,495,616 2/1970 Esposito 137/356 Filed d 2 1;- ;g. FOREIGNPATENTS [4 1 1 953,019 5/1949 France 4/192 [731 Assgnee 5mm 41 1,729 1H1966 Switzerland 4/192 Hartford, Conn.

Primary Examiner-Laverne D. Geiger Assistant Examiner1)ona1d B.Massenberg [54 FAUCET-MOUNTING cousrnuc'nou y- Parker. Carter & Markey12 Claims, 4 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl 4/192 ABSTRACT; Means f mounting a mixing faucet having a 1l E03? mixing valve in which the mixing valve is supported on a 0f 91,bracket attached to a sink top at lower end An escutcheon surrounds themixin valve and is seated at its lower end u on [56] References Cm thesink top. The up per portion of the escutcheon is attacfied UNITEDSTATES PATENTS to an upper portion of the mixing valve by a threadednut, with 2,255,125 9/1941 Mul1ett 299/ 144 the nut providing adownwardly directed force upon the top of 2,262,290 1 111941 Kuhnle4/192 the escutcheon to hold it to the sink top. There are seals at the2,392,918 1/ 1946 Habersturnp.... 137/111 upper and lower ends of theescutcheon so that the entire in- 2,538,835 1/ 195 1 Harvey et a1285/963 terior of the escutcheon is watertight.

PATENTED AUG24 IHYI SHEETI UF 2 I ///ar//e/ FAUcE'robmnvc CONSTRUCTIONSUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to improvementsin a mixing valve mounting construction and has particular relation to ameans for supporting a mixing valve within an escutcheon.

Another purpose of the invention is a faucet-mounting constructionproviding watertight seals at the upper and lower ends of a decorativeescutcheon.

Another purpose is a bracket construction for mounting a mixing valvewithin an escutcheon.

Another purpose is a faucet construction of the type described in whichthe escutcheon includes an outer transparent sleeve and an innerdecorative sleeve which is interchangeable.

Other purposes will appear in the ensuing specification, drawings andclaims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention is illustrateddiagrammatically in the follow ing drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front view of a faucet of the type described,

FIG. 2 is a top view taken from, a plane parallel to the top of IDESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT A faucet escutcheon is indicatedat and is generally conical in configuration. A spout cover 12 overliesthe top of the escutcheon and a control knob 14 is positioned at'theupper end of the entire assembly. A drain control knob 16 extendsthrough an opening 18 at the rear of the escutcheon as is conventionalin bathroom basin or lavatory faucets. A spout 20 is positioned belowthe spout cover 12 and may have a conventional aerator 22. i

Turning particularly to FIG. 3, the escutcheon 10 has an outer sleeve 24and an inner sleeve 26, The inside surface 28 of the outer sleeve 24 mayhave a series of spaced grooves 29 to create a decorative design.Preferably the outer sleeve 24 is transparent although in someconfigurations it may be opaque or colored. The inner sleeve 26, whichis interchangeable or removable; may have a decorative exterior suchthat the com bination of the'decorative inner sleeve 26 and thedecorative inside surface of the outer sleeve 24 provides the over allaesthetic design illustrated particularly in FIGS. 1 and 2. In likemanner,.the control knob 14 may have a similar decorative design.

Positioned within the escutcheon 10 is a cartridge receiver 30 which isin the form of a sleeve for holding a mixing valve or faucet cartridgeof the type shown in Pat. Re. 25,920. The invention should not belimited to this particular mixing valve, as obviously other valves arepractical. The cartridge receiver 30 may include a discharge sleeve 32having a port 33 in alignment with the spout 20. The spout 20 may bebrazed or other wise attached to sleeve 32. Seals 29 and 31 arepositioned on opposite sides of the discharge area.

The lower end of the cartridge receiver 30 is seated upon a bracketindicated generally at 34, having an upper portion 36, which is fastenedby means of a stud or the like 38 to the cartridge receiver 30. Thelower end of the bracket 34 may be oval in shape and is indicated at 40and is sealed upon a sink top 42. The lower oval section 40 of thebracket 34 may be held to the sink top 42 by means of a washer 44 and anut 46 which is threadedly engaged with a sleeve 48 having an upperoutwardly extending flange 50 which overlies the upper side of the ovalbracket portion and through the sleeve 48 for attachment to oppositesides of the cartridge receiver 30 and thus to oppositesides of themixing valve within the cartridge receiver.

A seal 54 has a lower annular ridge 56 which seats upon the sink top. Aupper portion 58 0f the seal 54 is positioned adjacent the inner surfaceof the escutcheon '10 and surrounds the outside of the oval bracketportion 40. Thus, there is a complete seal at the bottom of theescutcheon so that no water can leak from inside of the .escutcheonoutwardly upon the sink.

At the upper end of the cartridge receiver 30 .the knob 14 may beattached to'the mixing valve by means of a screw or the-like 60. Aportion of the cartridge receiver is threaded, as at 62. nut 64 isengaged with the threaded portion 62 .and has an outwardly extendingflange 66 which bears downwardly upon the top of the spout cover 12. Atthe top of the escutcheon 10 the outer sleeve 24 has a groove 68 andthere is a flange 70 at the lower end ofthe spout cover 12 which fitswithin the groove 6810 form a mating connection between the spout coverand the escutcheon. A seal 72 is positioned between the spout cover, theescutcheon and the .exterior of the discharge sleeve 32. Thus, the upperend of the escutcheon is watertight, as is the lower end. The seal 72extends annularly about the top of the escutcheon and has a portionpositioned between .the .top of the escutcheon and the lower end of thespout cover 12. p I

Of particular importance is the bracket for supporting the cartridgereceiver. In prior faucet constructions, the valve was attached to theescutcheon and the'escutcheon was then attached to the lavatory bowl.However, in the present instance the cartridge receiver and mixing valveare attached to a special bracket-which is in turn attached to thelavatory bowl or the sink top. Then the escutcheon is placed on top ofthe valve after which the nut 64 is added to secure the escutcheon tothe valve. 1 1

Although the term cartridge receiver has been used to describe a memberseparate from the mixing valve, in some applications the mixing valveitself maybe directly supported.

' Also of importance is'the sleeve construction, including a transparentouter sleeve and a removable decorative inner sleeve. By having theinner sleeve removable, it is possible to match the decor of thebathroom with that of the faucet.

Whereas the preferred form of the invention has been shown and describedherein, it should be realized that there are many modifications,substitutions and alterations thereto within the scope of the followingclaims.

We claim: v 1. Means for mounting a mixing faucet having a mixing valveto a sink top, including an outer faucet escutcheon seatedon the sinktop, bracket means positioned withinthe the bracket portion 40. As isconventional, there is an opening escutcheon and supporting the mixingvalve, means for attaching the lower end of the bracket to the sink top,a spout cover positionedon top of the escutcheon, and means,

removably attached to an upper portion of the mixing valve and having aportion overlying the spout cover for providing a downwardly directedforce on the spout cover and escutcheon to hold the escutcheon upon thesink top.

2. The structure of claim 1 further characterized by and including seal.means between the sink top, lower end of the escutcheon and said bracketmeans.

3. The structure of claim 1 further characterized by and including asealbetween an upper portion of said escutcheon and an upper portion ofsaid mixing valve.

4. The structure of claim 1 further characterized in that said bracketmeans includes a bracketmember having an upper portion supporting thelower end of the mixing valve and attached thereto and a lower portionseated upon the sink top within the escutcheon. 1

5. The structure of claim I further characterized in that the meansremovably attached to an upper portion of the mixing valve includes anut, threadedly engaged with the mixing valve and having an outwardlydirected flange bearing downwardly upon the spout cover. Y

escutcheon includes inner and outer sleeves; v

7. The structure of claim 6 further characterized in that said outersleeve is transparent.

8. The structure of claim 6 further characterized in that said innersleeve is interchangeable. V

9. The structure of claim 1 further characterized in that the innersurface of said escutcheon outer sleeve is formed by a series ofdecorative grooves.

10. Means for mounting a mixing faucet having a mixing valve to a sinktop including an outer generally conical faucet escutcheon seated on thesink top, a bracket positioned within the escutcheon and having an upperportion supporting the mixing valve, a lower portion of said bracketbeing seated upon the sink top, means for attaching the lower portion ofthe bracket to the sink top, a spout cover positioned on top of theescutcheon, a nut threadedly engaged with an upper portion of saidmixing valve and having an outwardly extending flange overlying theupper end of the spout cover, such that the nut provides a downwardlydirected force upon the spout cover and escutcheon to hold theescutcheon onto the sink top, and seal means at the upper and lower endsof the escutcheon for sealing off the interior thereof.

11. The structure of claim 10 further characterized in that said sealmeans includes a lower seal in contact with the escutcheon, sink top,and lower portion of the brackets, and

an seal positioned between the spout cover and the escutcheon and themixing valve.

12. Means for mounting a mixing faucet having a mixing valve to a sinktop, including an outer faucet escutcheon seated in the sink top,bracket means positioned within the escutcheon and supporting the mixingvalve, means for attaching the lower end of the bracket to the sink top,and a nut removably attached to an upper portion of the mixing valve andhaving a portion overlying the escutcheon for providing a downwardlydirected force on the escutcheon to hold it upon the sink top.

1. Means for mounting a mixing faucet having a mixing valve to a sinktop, including an outer faucet escutcheon seated on the sink top,bracket means positioned within the escutcheon and supporting the mixingvalve, means for attaching the lower End of the bracket to the sink top,a spout cover positioned on top of the escutcheon, and means, removablyattached to an upper portion of the mixing valve and having a portionoverlying the spout cover for providing a downwardly directed force onthe spout cover and escutcheon to hold the escutcheon upon the sink top.2. The structure of claim 1 further characterized by and including sealmeans between the sink top, lower end of the escutcheon and said bracketmeans.
 3. The structure of claim 1 further characterized by andincluding a seal between an upper portion of said escutcheon and anupper portion of said mixing valve.
 4. The structure of claim 1 furthercharacterized in that said bracket means includes a bracket memberhaving an upper portion supporting the lower end of the mixing valve andattached thereto and a lower portion seated upon the sink top within theescutcheon.
 5. The structure of claim 1 further characterized in thatthe means removably attached to an upper portion of the mixing valveincludes a nut, threadedly engaged with the mixing valve and having anoutwardly directed flange bearing downwardly upon the spout cover. 6.The structure of claim 1 further characterized in that said escutcheonincludes inner and outer sleeves.
 7. The structure of claim 6 furthercharacterized in that said outer sleeve is transparent.
 8. The structureof claim 6 further characterized in that said inner sleeve isinterchangeable.
 9. The structure of claim 1 further characterized inthat the inner surface of said escutcheon outer sleeve is formed by aseries of decorative grooves.
 10. Means for mounting a mixing faucethaving a mixing valve to a sink top including an outer generally conicalfaucet escutcheon seated on the sink top, a bracket positioned withinthe escutcheon and having an upper portion supporting the mixing valve,a lower portion of said bracket being seated upon the sink top, meansfor attaching the lower portion of the bracket to the sink top, a spoutcover positioned on top of the escutcheon, a nut threadedly engaged withan upper portion of said mixing valve and having an outwardly extendingflange overlying the upper end of the spout cover, such that the nutprovides a downwardly directed force upon the spout cover and escutcheonto hold the escutcheon onto the sink top, and seal means at the upperand lower ends of the escutcheon for sealing off the interior thereof.11. The structure of claim 10 further characterized in that said sealmeans includes a lower seal in contact with the escutcheon, sink top,and lower portion of the brackets, and an seal positioned between thespout cover and the escutcheon and the mixing valve.
 12. Means formounting a mixing faucet having a mixing valve to a sink top, includingan outer faucet escutcheon seated in the sink top, bracket meanspositioned within the escutcheon and supporting the mixing valve, meansfor attaching the lower end of the bracket to the sink top, and a nutremovably attached to an upper portion of the mixing valve and having aportion overlying the escutcheon for providing a downwardly directedforce on the escutcheon to hold it upon the sink top.